The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-11-19

temperance speeches.
"Jimmie was always prowling
around to find something and very
little escaped him." he said. "One
night as five OF his companions were
sitting in row on the old stone
fence. Jimmie said, in a whispered
voice "Boys, ! know where there
is a watermelon patch and l think
we can collar just about twelve Of
'em.p
''Bully p they all exclaimed in
chorus.
"Yes," continued Jimmie" we
win have just two melons apiece.
Meet me here to-nightat 7.30 o'clock,
I'll take you to the patch, we'll col
the melons, and then hide them I'M
til the excitemet is all over.
All right Jimmie, the boys re-
piled and scattered to their respect
i've homes.
At 7;30 they met at the rendez-
vous, and Jimmie took them a mile
down the road, through corn field
on theseuter edge of which they
came ID ale watermelon patch, and
twas such patch that it made
their mouths water. Jimmie plug
ged twelve of the finest melons in
ahe patch and directed each of the
boys to take two and follow him.
They did SO and he led to lonely
part of the corn field nearer theroad
where they buried the melons.
Now said Jimmie, let's all go
home and keep mum, for these
melons will soon be missed by the
old farmer, and he'll kick up a row
but, as he'll find no trace of them,
the thing'l die out, and by that time
the melons will be as cold as though
the'd been kept on ice, and then
wen eat 'em. But keep dark and
nobody'll know that we have been
in the watermelon business
$50 they all went home. But
Jimmie went that night to the farm
er and asked him what he thought
of his watermelon patch, and the
old farmer told him that they were
getting along splendidly. Jimmie
then asked him if he had dog
down there watching the watermel-
ons. The old farmer said he hadn't
Jimmie said he ought to have dos
as there were q good many boys who
liked watermelons. The farmer sale
he didn't think they'd take his mel
ons. Then Jimmie told him they
take his melons. Then Jimmie tolC
him that they had already taker
twelve and that in the morning hi
would tell the farmer who the bow
were. Jimmie then went down t,
thevillage and asked the grocerymeI
If he had any watermelons yet. Jim
mic asked him what he'd give 70
twelve big ones. The grocerymai
told him if they were good big one
and all ripe he would give SO 70
them.
All right, said Jimmie, hitch III
and come with me and I'll delive
the melons.
THE groceryman hitched up an,
Jimmie directed him where to driv
and then he jumped over the fenc
into the corn field and told the gro
ceryman to wait and he would
bring the melons, which it did no
take him long to do. Jimmie tool
the money and ran home and th,
groceryman drove back well salts
fed with the bargain.
Next morning bright and earl,
Jimmie went to the farmer and ask
ed if he had been down to the water
melon patch. The farmer said tina
he had missed exactly twelve of tn,
fruit, and he told Jimmie that h,
would now give him $40 to tell hin
who took the melons. Jimmie sait
he wouldn't give the boys away
but that if the farmer would civ,
him $40 he'd tell him who Dough
the melons. The farmer gave jim
ME the 800 and was told that tn,
village grocerymen had the stoler
fruit. Jimmie then ran to the vii
lage, and rushed in the store all GU
of breath and handed the grocery
man the SO, and exclaimed:
"Take it take it The farmer hai
found out all about it and is comm.
down for those melons, and
didn't know they were stolen"
"The groceryman stood there
almost paralyzed, as Jimmie darteC
behind some boxes. At that MON
ent the farmer with fire in his eyes
entered. Then there was a terribl,
row. The farmer threatened to hav,
the groceryman arrested for receiv
ing stolen property, and to hush i
up the groceryman paid him s1O(
and gave him back the melons